I’m eager to the the SP-1 and SP-II manuals as well. There is a nice image of an SP-II on eba with the top off. I found this article – Broadcast-Equipment-Exchange-1980-07 DOT pdf
I especially like this section: (Quote from that article, July 1980 Radio World, Psychoacoustic Enhancement
by M.D. Heleniak
Direct text quote:
Since our firm caters to the broadcast and recording industries, we looked
into the psychoacoustic processors to
see what they had to offer. The unit we
found most favorable is made by a new
company from Michigan called EXR.
EXR’s products are the SP1 and EX2
exciters which are both dual channel
audio signal processors.
The EXR Company was born out of a recording studio in the 1970’s. Jim Cassily, president of EXR, was looking for a way to make standard analogue tape
recordings match the sonic qualities of
the esoteric direct -to -disk recordings. In
their R &D , Jim Cassily and partner, Jim
Lagerkvist, designed a circuit which
they felt vastly improved the clarity and
intelligibility of an analogue audio signal.
They dubbed their new invention the
sub -phase psychoacoustic enhancer,
which was later shortened to SP -1. The
original SP -1, home -brewed in a Bud
box, caught the attention of rock star
Pete Seeger during a recording session
at Cassily’s studio. Seeger and his sax Get the most from your AM signal…
The MAP II Multiband Audio Processor
gives you optimum modulation of
your AM /AM- Stereo program. Yet It
costs much less than similar
systems.
Discriminate Compression
Only MAP 11 offers you independent compression and equalization
for each of eight bands. Input level
Is held constant by a slow, gain – riding A.G.C.
Inaudible Phase Optimization
Program phase Is silently “rotated”
for maximum positive modulation.
..,_…d
Absolute Peak Control
A unique integrated peak controller
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Features include selectable low – and high-pass filters, “proof” mode,
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Call or write today for more
information. Map li – $1670.
r –
.. us r ::::: ,ii ii.ii
I .. – .e
Inovonics from
NORTHEAST BROADCAST LAB, INC.
15 Charles Street, P.O. Box 1176, South Glens Falls, N.Y. 12801
(518) 7Q3 -2181
Circle 108 on Action -gram.
player, Alto Reed, talked Cassily and
Lagerkvist into making an SP -1 for
them and with that, production of the
EXR Exciter began.
The EXR Exciter is now used in
almost any audio application imaginable. Although no one (except its
makers) knows for certain how it works,
its sonic presence is sought after. For
instance, in PA applications, the giant
McCormick Place in Chicago purchased
an EXR for President Jimmy Carter’s
speech and now ùses it regularly. Disk
mastering labs and recording studios
use the EXR and recording groups
ranging from the Berlin Philharmonic
to Linda Ronstadt to Earth, Wind and
Fire won’t record without it. Broadcaster’s enthusiasm for the EXR is no
exception. The latest Burger King and
GM jingles were mixed through an EXR…

I can testify to the EXR SP1 actually being very much a net positive when used on SM58, EV676, e935, e945, etc. vocal mics. It’s single knob dials in the crisp intelligibility factor when singing softly either live or on recordings.

Chris:
I have an EM7 that I still use regularly and a ProKit still in the box, never built. I think back to the Lang PEQ2 eq. I had to send the line amp board back for repair one time after a serious storm wiped it. It was at an AM station that used it in their program line. They still played 78s and when they played a particularly scratchy one, the jock would turn the HF all the way down to kill the noise. Unfortunately, he would seldom remember to turn it back up and the stations response fell off at about 3 kHz for days until someone noticed.

yes.. Lee DeCarlo engineered our “Last Kiss” single & album. Great guy – excellent engineer

glad u can use it! CR

Hey Tom great stories on golden era of sound and music.
That your father help pioneered. was your into jazz as well?
I know must of been great stories at those late night jazz recordings.
Thanks a bunch.

Hi Maja,
I have a few of jazz riverside recordings with your father Mr Higgins named
As the studio engineer for great sessions. did he moved to New York at that time.